Benedict Arnold: The Rest of the Story

Published: May 19, 2002

Thanks for running the article about Benedict Arnold (''Beloved Hero and Despised Traitor,'' April 21).

Like most people, I had equated Arnold with the knee-jerk embodiment of treachery.

That was until as a 15-year-old, I read the books by Kenneth Roberts, ''Rabble in Arms'' and ''Arundel,'' in which Arnold is a primary character.

What I learned, and what has been subsequently confirmed by my own dogged pursuit of any and all biographies, is that Arnold's personal bravery, audacious military strategies and inspirational leadership resulted in:

*the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, whose guns were then dragged by Gen. Knox's forces to the hills outside Boston, forcing the British to abandon the city.

*the launching of a surprise New Year's Eve attack on Quebec, following a horrific march through the swamps of Maine, where he was seriously wounded.

*his fighting a yearlong rear-guard action against the same British army coming south from Canada to link with the New York army to split the colonies. This effort included building a tiny fleet to generate as much resistance as possible.

*his disobeying orders to stay in his tent at Saratoga. He dashed to the most critical spot on the field to lead a successful counterattack, where he was wounded again.

Other things I learned about Arnold:

*As the Saratoga battle convinced the French to support the colonies, it could be argued that absent Arnold's participation, the war may have ended sooner and worse for the Americans.

*He was a personal favorite of Washington, but was regularly passed over for promotion by Congress, who tended to favor political friends.

*He spent his own considerable fortune on clothing and feeding his troops.

*He led the Ridgefield counter-attack while on medical leave.

What he subsequently did was disgraceful, but one can take solace in the fact that no one regretted his actions more than he. Imagine that otherwise, he would today be known as the very embodiment of American generalship -- the equal of Patton or Lee. Instead . . .

BILL ROBERTS

Deep River

Photo: A print of a 1777 Ridgefield battlefield scene, drawn in London, showing Benedict Arnold's horse being shot from under him.